Adult Bike Camping in May with Out Our Front Door out of Chicago, IL – SOLD OUT

A Weekend Bikepacking trip From Chicago to Milwaukee, with a Campground Ho’down and Bike Bar Crawl in Milwaukee

Itinerary:

Day 1: 80 mile ride | Day 2: 20 mile ride to Milwaukee, 10 miles-ish in Milwaukee, and 20 miles back to camp in Racine, WI | Day 3: 80 miles to Chicago (options to take a train)

Support: Self-supported – you carry your own gear. No vehicle support.

Meals: Some meals are included.

Lunch stop on Day 1: Likely Golosinas El Encanto in Waukegan.

Lunch stop on Day 2: Group to pick from assorted breweries & bars in Milwaukee.

Lunch stop on Day 3: TBD

Transportation: Our starting point is accessible via street parking, CTA Brown Line and near LSD bike route.

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Pace: Casual, option to ride together as a group. 12-15mph. Intermediate level.

Trail/Route: Paved road with minimal gravel incorporated.

Lodging: Tent (camping gear not provided). The group will stay at Cliffside Campground (Racine County) located 7320 Michna Rd, Racine, WI 53402 (map).

TRIP DESCRIPTION

In 2024, Out Our Front Door is mixing it up a bit for this ride. The train has consistently been a hassle, and the organizers even had to get a Uhaul to bring bikes back over the last few years. Plus, this ride is so fun, the organizers want to welcome a few more folks along for the ride and really make the most of the time up in our favorite neighboring city. So this time around, the group will leave with a crew from Chicago on Friday morning, bike 80 miles to Racine and camp at Cliffside Campground. That is standard to how Out Our Front Door has usually run this ride.

But this year, Out Our Front Door is going to leave tents set up at Cliffside, ride 20 miles into Milwaukee to enjoy some food and libations, and ride the 20 or so miles back to Cliffside to camp a second night. Because there is so much love for MKE and its fine citizens (and we just want to ride with them more), Out Our Front Door is offering a few free spots for Milwaukee folks to meet the Chicago crew when the group arrives in MKE on Saturday. The MKE folks can then come back and camp a night with the group at Cliffside.

On Sunday, everyone will get up, and the MKE folks will be on their own to ride back home, and the CHI crew will ride back to Chicago with options for folks to hop the train 35 miles into the ride in Waukegan. Otherwise, the group will be riding the full 80 miles back to our original start point in Chicago.

Read more about the 2023 adventure in this blog post.

Transfers: We have limitations for ticket transfers but may accommodate in the event certain criteria are met. You may review this updated Transfer Policy flowsheet to determine what next steps you need to take.

Breweries/Bars to tour/visit:

TBD

WHAT TO BRING

Required Items:

Your bike!

Helmet – encouraged but not required

Tent & Camping Gear

Head Lamp

Cash/Debit/Credit Card for your food and your drinks

Photo I.D. and Emergency Contact Info

Two spare inner tubes and tools to replace a flat (guides will be able to assist)

At least 2 water bottles

Bike lights, front and rear

Lock for your bike

High energy snacks

Change of clothes, including swimsuit and/or rain gear!

Phone battery pack

Camp mug, plate/bowl, eating utensils

Welcoming, adventurous, can-do attitude

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Campground fees (sites, firewood, etc.)

Dinner on Day 1. Breakfast on Day 2 and Day 3.

Education about local history and nature

Really nice and supportive guides

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

Food for Day 1 lunch and Day 2 lunch and dinner (the group will stop at designated restaurants for food, but the guides will not pay for these meals)

Snacks

ABOUT THE GUIDES

Out Our Front Door guides are part of a community of volunteers that believe in adventure and helping others find adventure right out our front door. They exude a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive spirit which are foundational values at OOFD. They have love and appreciation for their home and like sharing knowledge about that home with others, thus helping the riders to develop a stronger sense of gratitude for our local history and nature.

The guides will be set with the route and an extensive script about the area you’ll be riding through (a script they may have researched, written, and developed themselves)! They have set up multiple breakpoints along the way to ensure you can go the distance. So if this is your first time out on a long ride, you’ll be surprised by how far you can actually go. They will stick with you and if for any reason you must end the ride early, they will help direct you to the nearest train and way to return to the city.

They will have the tools necessary for most maintenance issues that might arise on a weekend bike camping trip. Our guides will help you with any needed repairs. *If you have your own tools or supplies, especially any that are unique to your bike, please bring them along. Though guides will have extra tubes and patches, you most definitely should bring at least 2 extra tubes for your bike.